Window for pressure chambers



Sept. 27, 1949. AQ H. HEINEMAN WINDOW FOR PRESSURE CHAMBERS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1945 mi' TR 542g' lil" ill" f /////////,yf //W/ Ll-U ' Sept 27, 1949-* v AJH. HEINEMAN 2,482,770 1 WINDOW FOR PRESSURE CHAMBERS Filed July 11, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 plastic.

Patented Sept. 27, 1949 UNITEDI STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW FOR PRESSURE CHAMBERS Arnold H. Heineman, Chicago, 111., assignor, by

mesne assignments, toGuardite Corporation, kWilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application July 11, 1945, Serial No. 604,433

6 claims. (cl. sas-29) This invention relates to a window for a prest sure chamber, and more particularly to such a window that will withstand the pressure in such a chamber, but permit clear vision therethrough.

A pressure chamber is subjected to extremes of temperature and humidity, and to a wide range of atmospheric, pressure conditions. The window through which the elect .of these conditions on the material being tested is viewed must be clear at all times and must be able to withstand the above variations which tend to expand and contract the glass in the window as well as to subject it, at times, to wide differences in pressure.

This invention will be described in detail as set out in the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the window in a fragmentary section of the chamber,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken .on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3l is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a view of the complete vacuum chamber partly broken away for clarity of illustration.

In the fragmentary embodiment shown the pressure chamber is indicated at I and comprises an outer pressure sustaining wall I I and an inner exible diaphragm I2 which define a space I3 between them. Means are provided for evacuating the pressure chamber within the inner wall I2 and also the chamber I3 between the walls I I and I2, the means comprising a pipe 8 adapted to be connected to an evacuating device (not shown) and opening to the inner chamber; and a second pipe 9 adapted to be connected to such vacuum producing device and opening to the chamber between the walls II and I2. A window frame I4 is hermetically welded in an opening in these walls. This frame consists of an outer section I and an inner section I6 separated by a ring I1a of dithermal material-preferably of The frame may be suitably welded to the walls II and I2. The sections I5 and I6 and the ring I1a are held in assembled relationship by the means indicated in Fig. 3, comprising a bolt 4I countersunk in the member I6 and threading into a threaded portion of the ring I1a. A second bolt 40 is countersunk in the ring Ila, as shown, and threads into a threaded portion of member I5. In assembling the above described members, the ring I1a is positioned over the section I5 and secured thereto by the insertion and tightening of bolt 4I), then the section I6 is placed in position over the ring I1a and held in that position by the bolt 4I. It can be seen that no metal is continuous between the members I5 and I6, the bolt 40 being in contact with the members 2, I 5 and I1a only, while bolt 4I contacts only members I6 and I1a. Within the frame are two sets of glass panels I1, I8, I9 and 202I, 22. In the middle of the sets is a gasket or stop member 24 which separates the panes and forms a chamber 25 which is connected by openings 26 to the chamber I3. Openings 21 and 28 are likewise provided connecting the chamber 2.5 with the space between the panes I9 and I8, and between the panes I8 and I1. The panes are separated from each other and from the various gaskets and stop members by rubber gaskets 29. The panes are held in the frame by flanged bars 30 and 3| attached respectively to the inner and outer sides .of the frame. They may be secured to the frame by any suitable means such as the bolts 32 and 33.

All of the panes are spaced from the frame member at their edges, as indicated at Fig. 2. This may .be accomplished by positioning the panes in proper relationship to the sides of the frame and placing thin strips between the frame and the bottom of the panes prior to attaching the iianged bars to the top and sides of the frame. The side and top bars will hold the panes in place, while the bottom bars are attached. The flanged bars are, however, spaced from the metal frames so that an annular opening may be provided connecting the edges of the panes with the interior of the chamber or the outside atmosphere. I have, however, indicated a gasket 34 in connection with the flanged bar 30 sealing off this connection from the pressure chamber.

The panes of glass, as assembled, do not contact the metal frame at any point, nor is there any direct contact between the panes and the retaining flange bars. Furthermore, the relatively great changes in temperature in the chamber, which are quickly taken up by the metal wall and window frame, are not transmitted to the panes by these members. Hence, the pane may expand without danger of cracking.

The hollow wall .of the chamber is evacuated to insulate the chamber, and the passageway 26 between the two sets of glasses, being connected with said wall, is likewise evacuated. This results in a uniform pressure being exerted against the front set of panes. The vacuum in the chamber wall should not be exceeded by the vacuum in the chamber to any great extent; hence the difference in pressure against the inner set of panes is never excessive.

The function of the passageways 21 and 28 is to prevent condensation upon the faces of the panes I1, I8 and I9. The evacuation of the inner chamber produces a drop in temperature oi that chamber and therefore produces a cooling of the pane l1. This cooling would, in the absence of passageways 21 and 28, cool the air in the space between panes I1 and I8 With the consequent condensation of moisture upon the glass. However, inasmuch as the space between the walls is evacuated along"r with the inner chamberv and that space is Vconnected by passageways 26, 21 and 28 with the space between the panes l1 and l, the pressure in that space is also reduced with the result that the humidity is unchanged-,and there is no great diierence between either the temperature or the humidity on opposite faces "of any one inner pane. Thus, the'possibility of condensation is practically eliminated.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I claim las new, and rdesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1i In a pressure vessel, an outer pressure sustaining wall, a gas tight inner diaphragm spaced therefrom and surrounding a vacuum chamber, means for -evacuating the vacuum chamber and the space between the wall and the diaphragm, a window frame sealed to the wall and the diaphragm, said window iframe including an insulating compression `ring dividing the frame into exterior and interior portions, and a series of spaced window panes within the frame, at least one of said panes sealing the outer atmosphere romthe vacuum chamber.

2. A vessel as set forth in claim 1 in which the compression ring is on the inner side .of at least one sealing pane.

3. A vessel as set forth in claim 1 in which at least four panes are provided in parallel relationship and there isa 'chamber between the central panes, said chamber lhaving an opening therein communicating with the space between the wall and the diaphragm.

4. A vessel as set forth in claim 1, in which a series of six panes in parallel relationship is provided, there is a central chamber between the third andrfourth panes, said chamber having an opening therein communicating with the space between the wall and the diaphragm, and openings are provided through the second and third pane from the interior to said central chamber.

5. -A vessel as set forth in claim 1, in which all of the panes are spaced at their edges from the frame.

V6. A vessel asset forth in claim 1, in which atleast four 'panes are provided in parallel relationship Vand 'there is a chamber between the central panes, said chamber having an opening therein communicating with the space between the wall and the diaphragm and in which the panes' interior of the chamber are provided with an opening communicating with the chamber and with the spaces between the panes.

ARNOLD H. HEINEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 111e of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Heineman Apr. 20, 1948 

